A major player such as AT&T or DirecTV (DTV +0.8%) might make a run at acquiring Dish Network (DISH -0.7%), according to industry consultant Tim Farrar. The line of reasoning is that with Dish pursuing its own bid for Clearwire, a deal sooner rather than later makes sense. Last week, DirecTV CEO Mike White stoked the DTV-DISH merger fire by saying a tie-up would yield "strategic merit" and "synergies."